Eritrea vs Eswatini on Wednesday will serve as the first AFCON qualifier for the east African nation since 2008. Eritrea will end 18 years of isolation from the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday when they host Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in the Moroccan city of Meknes in the first qualifier for the 2027 tournament. The United Nations estimates about 80 footballers and coaches have defected, citing political repression and lengthy military service as the main reasons. Speaking in Morocco before the 2025 Cup of Nations, Eritrean National Football Federation President Paulos Andemariam announced that the isolation would end. Their last competitive international was a World Cup qualifying defeat in Namibia seven years ago.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 24, 2026 11:54 UTC